Are you more prone to feeling blue in the winter months? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a recurrent depressive disorder brought on by the shorter daylight hours of the fall and winter seasons.
Symptoms of SAD
Symptoms of SAD include low energy, listlessness, sleeping issues, change of appetite, and feelings of hopelessness, among other classic signs of depression. Those who suffer from SAD often experience a nearly overwhelming dread of the winter months.
What to Do if You Suffer From SAD
Thankfully, there are courses of action that can help mitigate the effects of SAD. Since the low moods are often connected with the diminishing sunshine, it is important to take extra steps to get some of those precious rays, which can boost your serotonin and vitamin D levels. You can do this by braving the cold and maintaining outdoor exercise throughout the winter months—in fact, exercise, in general, can be quite a boost.
You can also add some sunshine to your life courtesy of specially designed therapy lights, which mimic being outdoors. Studies have also shown that adding vitamin D supplements to your diet can help.
If you feel the weight of winter, be sure to speak to your doctor about solutions that may be helpful towards making the cold months a little more bearable.